Trevor Falby

 Trevor Falby graduated from the Lower East Side Preparatory School in 2004. He got a job at a printing press doing finishing work on high profile brand images. One day, he hurt his left hand’s middle finger on a machine he operated. He was treated but his company would not pay the insurance. Trevor didn’t have any benefits.

The mother of his baby gave him a The Way To Work (formerly know as VFI) postcard that offered vocational training in Bank Teller and Accounting, something he wanted to get involved in. During the introductory period, the one person that convinced him was Ms. Bethea, a The Way To Work Career Manager.

“She’s a mommy-like figure but in a business way,” he said. “I needed someone to stay on top of me from time to time. She was always there for me.”

Although Trevor was interested in business, he decided to try the medical field. The Medical Administrative Assistant training was a bit more challenging than he imagined.

“Looking back there were so many things to remember,” he said.

After graduating in Spring 2006, he was placed in Americare as an ACF clerk scheduling patients into adult care facilities, data entry and customer service, where he earned $12.45 an hour and was offered company benefits. Realizing that their benefits might be too expensive for some workers, Americare invited outside providers to offer more affordable services, in which Trevor enrolled.

Trevor, 23, is now working as a Managed Care Biller, earning $16.50 an hour, but he doesn’t plan to stay in the medical field. Instead, he wants to pursue business and study either business management or accounting in college.

“I’m thinking of buying a franchise in the future, a video game store called Play & Trade Games and making it bigger than what it is,” he said.